Hebrews - Chapter 6
BE STEADFAST IN THE FAITH
GOD IS SURE IN HIS PROMISE
6:1-3
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection, not laying again a foundation…”
of repentance from dead works
of the faith toward God
of the teaching of baptisms
of the laying on of hands
of the resurrection of the dead
of eternal judgement
Jude wrote in 1:4 that “certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men…”
It is Christ who has brought in that which is perfect. It is in Him that we have the full revelation of God. He has fully made known His mind (Heb 1:2). By His one all-sufficient offering of Himself, He has perfected forever (Heb 10:14). He came to fulfill the will of God and He finished the work (John 17:4).
“not laying again a foundation”
This is exactly what the Hebrews were trying to do. To lay again a foundation meant leaving the substance of Christ for the shadow of the old law, through which nothing was perfected.
Notice the writer lists six things (6 being the imperfect number of flesh):
Repentance from dead works: Note it is not repentance from sin, and along with Heb 9:14, the phrase is not used again in the NT.
Faith toward God: perhaps looking away from Christ backward.
The doctrine of baptisms: Plural use of the word, looking back to Leviticus 16:4, Exodus 30:18, Numbers 19:19, concerning the washing of one who wished to approach God, thinking that sins could be washed away.
The laying on of Hands: Leviticus 16:1, Aaron lay his hands upon the head of the goat who was to stand for the sins of the people, sending it into the wilderness carrying their sins. (A scapegoat!).
The resurrection of the dead: Remember Martha told Jesus she knew her brother would be raised in the last day and what did Jesus answer?
I am the resurrection.
Eternal judgement: Rev 20, the Great White Throne.
The people were forsaking Christ, slipping backward toward the old faith, and losing their zeal , perhaps by persecutions, but were urged to carry forward toward perfection rather than laying again a foundation of old ways.
6:4-12
“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened…”
Exhortations to “show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end” verse 11.
Scripture teaches clearly that the Word of God does not contradict itself, and if the Lord told us that His sheep should “never perish” (John 10:28) then Hebrews 6 does not teach some will.
If Paul taught that the Holy Spirit assures that nothing can separate the children from the love of the father (Rom 8:35) then Hebrews 6 does not teach that separation.
Here the teaching is clear to the Hebrew faithful (and to us) to progress in the Christian course they were taught (1-11) and then to persevere forward (12-20).
NOTE: Notice that in verse 4 we see that the reference is to “those who were once enlightened” (not us who were once enlightened) and the reference is not to “you” but to “those”. These are the ones to whom this verse is directed, and carefully note in verse 9, “… we are persuaded better things of you”…”.
NOTE: We are seeing the lesson toward those who may be renouncing all the teaching of Jesus and His gospel, and returning to either a faith based upon works & men or even to open godless living.
This is the “falling away” meaning falling away from the truth of Christ and is NOT evidence of the loss of salvation once grace has visited it on the heart of the believer, through faith.
The phrase “renewing them into repentance” means that apostles, teachers, leaders, or servants of the Lord find it impossible to renew those who have turned away BECAUSE there is no other (and certainly no better) gospel to bring them. Remember Matthew 15:14 “Leave them alone”.
6:13-23
“That ye be not slothful…”
God, with an oath, made a promise to Abraham, swore by Himself as there was none greater, that “… I will bless you and I will multiply you” and by his patient endurance Abraham received the promise and through the lesson of this endurance (enduring faith on our part) we have a strong encouragement to take hold of the hope as an anchor to the soul.
By doing so, we may enter into that which our forerunner, Jesus Christ, has set the example.
If we believe, we must believe in full, trusting only in Him to keep us and to bring us to Him in His time (either by mortal death or rapture) as he taught us in John 10:28:
“Neither shall any pluck them out of my hand”
Question: What causes people to “fall away” and what can we do to help them when they do?